Jason Manford did an unexpected stand-up set last night - in the middle of classic musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Manford is currently playing Caractacus Potts in the touring production and when a cast member was taken ill during the performance at Southend's Cliffs Pavilion the show had to pause while the understudy prepared to go on.

Instead of leaving the audience getting wrestless Manford went onstage and did a fifteen-minute stand-up set. 

Posting on Facebook Manford wrote that the cast member had had to pull out because of an upset stomach: "Interesting night in Southend tonight. Had a show stop due to a cast member suddenly being ill and so rather than let the audience stare at an empty stage for 15 minutes while we got the understudy ready, I popped out and did some stand up! Then when she was ready, just cracked on with rest of the show! Was great fun & audience were wonderful!"

The show, currently travelling around the UK, also stars Michelle Collins, Martin Kemp, Phill Jupitus and Amy Griffiths.